Draba daviesiae

Perennials; (densely pulvinate); caudex branched (branches elongated, loose, with persistent leaf remains, terminating in flowering or sterile shoots); scapose. Stems unbranched, (0.05-)0.2-0.6 dm, glabrous. Basal leaves (densely imbricate); rosulate; petiolate; petiole ciliate throughout; blade (fleshy), oblong to obovate or oblanceolate, 0.3-0.7(-1) cm × 1-2(-2.5) mm, margins entire, (ciliate, trichomes simple, 0.1-0.5 mm, apex obtuse), surfaces glabrous (midvein obscure abaxially). Cauline leaves 0. Racemes 2-8(-10)-flowered, ebracteate, (subcorymbose), slightly elongated in fruit; rachis not flexuous, glabrous. Fruiting pedicels divaricate-ascending (not decurrent basally), straight, 4-10 mm, glabrous. Flowers: sepals oblong, 1.5-2.2 mm, glabrous; petals pale to bright yellow, spatulate, 3.5-4 × 1-2 mm; anthers ovate, 0.3-0.4 mm. Fruits ovate to oblong-elliptic, plane, flattened, 4-8 × 2-4 mm; valves (obscurely veined), glabrous; ovules 6-14 per ovary; style 0.1-0.5 mm. Seeds ovoid, 1.2-1.5 × 0.8-1 mm.

Flowering Jul-Aug. Talus slopes, rock crevices and cracks, rocky ridges and slides, alpine meadows; 2700-2900 m; Mont.

Although originally described as a variety of Draba apiculata (= D. globosa), D. daviesiae is distinct morphologically. It is easily distinguished from the former by its densely pulvinate habit, obtuse leaf blades, and obscurely veined fruit valves. By contrast, D. globosa exhibits a cespitose but non-pulvinate habit, acute leaf blades, and prominently veined fruit valves. Draba daviesiae is known from the Bitterroot Mountains in Ravalli County.